5 Simple Steps To Stop X (Twitter) Videos Autoplaying And Save Your Data (2025 Update)

Are you frustrated by videos and GIFs suddenly starting to play as you scroll through your feed on X (formerly Twitter)? You are not alone. Autoplay is a default feature designed to keep you engaged, but it secretly devours your mobile data, drains your battery life, and often exposes you to content you weren't ready for, including graphic or sensitive media. As of December 2025, the settings menu on X has been updated, making the option to disable this feature slightly harder to find. This comprehensive guide provides the most current, step-by-step instructions for turning off video autoplay on both the X desktop website and the mobile app, ensuring you regain control over your feed and your data plan.

The good news is that X provides a simple, yet somewhat hidden, setting to completely stop videos from playing automatically. By changing this one setting, you can ensure that videos only load and play when you explicitly tap or click them. This small adjustment is a powerful tool for improving your overall experience on the platform, saving significant amounts of data, and making your browsing experience much more peaceful.

The Absolute Latest Method to Disable Autoplay on X (Desktop Web)

For users who primarily access the platform via a web browser on a PC or Mac, the settings are tucked away under the "More" menu. The steps below reflect the most recent interface changes to the X website as of late 2024 and 2025, ensuring you find the correct options without confusion. This process is identical whether you are using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

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• Step 1: Access the Main Menu. On the X homepage, look for the main navigation menu on the left side of your screen. Click on the "More" option, which is usually represented by an icon with three dots (...).
• Step 2: Navigate to Settings. A pop-up menu will appear. Select "Settings and Privacy." This is the central hub for all your account and application preferences.
• Step 3: Find Data Usage. In the "Settings" menu, you will see several categories. Click on "Accessibility, display, and languages." Then, under this section, select "Data usage." This is where X manages all media and network-related settings.
• Step 4: Locate the Autoplay Setting. Under the "Data usage" section, scroll down until you find the "Video autoplay" option.
• Step 5: Change the Setting. Click on "Video autoplay." You will be presented with three choices:
  • On mobile data and Wi-Fi: (The default setting, which you want to change).
  • On Wi-Fi only: Videos will only autoplay when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
  • Never: This is the setting you want to select. Choosing "Never" completely disables video and GIF autoplay, requiring you to click to play any media.

Once you select "Never," the change is saved automatically. You can immediately return to your feed and notice the difference: no more surprise videos, no more unexpected sound bursts, and a significant reduction in bandwidth consumption.

How to Stop Autoplay Videos on the X Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The steps for the X mobile application on both Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Google Android devices are nearly identical. The process is slightly different from the desktop version as the main menu is accessed via your profile icon.

• Step 1: Open Settings and Support. Launch the X app. Tap on your Profile Picture/Icon located in the top-left corner of the screen. A side menu will slide out.
• Step 2: Navigate to Privacy Settings. In the side menu, tap on "Settings and Support" and then select "Settings and Privacy."
• Step 3: Find Data Usage. Scroll down the main settings list and tap on "Accessibility, display, and languages." Then, select "Data usage."
• Step 4: Adjust Video Autoplay. Under the "Data usage" heading, locate the "Video autoplay" option.
• Step 5: Select "Never." Just like the desktop version, tap on "Video autoplay" and choose the "Never" option. This setting will apply to both mobile data and Wi-Fi networks, giving you maximum control over media playback.

By implementing this change on your mobile device, you will immediately start conserving your monthly data allowance. This is especially critical for users with limited data plans, as video content is the single largest consumer of mobile bandwidth. Furthermore, turning off autoplay contributes to a longer battery life, as the phone isn't constantly processing and buffering video streams in the background.

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Beyond Data Saving: Key Benefits of Disabling Autoplay on X

While saving mobile data is the most immediate and tangible benefit of turning off autoplay, the advantages extend far beyond your data plan. This small setting change can profoundly impact your mental well-being, battery performance, and overall digital consumption habits. It’s a simple but effective tactic for a more intentional social media experience.

1. Significant Mobile Data and Bandwidth Conservation

Videos, especially high-definition (HD) content, consume vast amounts of data. Even if you only scroll past a video for a second, the X app begins buffering and playing it. Over the course of a day, this can add up to hundreds of megabytes, or even gigabytes, of wasted data. Disabling autoplay ensures you only download and stream content you explicitly choose to watch, directly translating to a lower monthly data bill and fewer unexpected data overages. This is a crucial setting for remote workers, students, and frequent travelers relying on cellular networks.

2. Avoiding Unwanted or Sensitive Content Exposure

The X timeline is notoriously unpredictable. Turning off autoplay is your first line of defense against unintentionally viewing graphic, violent, or sexually suggestive media. When videos don't start automatically, you have a moment to read the accompanying text, view the thumbnail, and decide if the content is appropriate for you. This gives you back control over your viewing experience and protects you from unexpected visual or auditory shocks, which is a major concern for many social media users.

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3. Improved Device Performance and Battery Life

Streaming video is a processor-intensive task. When videos autoplay, your phone's CPU, GPU, and network chip are constantly working to load, decode, and display the media, even if the video is only a small part of your screen. This continuous background activity leads to faster battery drainage and can cause your device to heat up. By stopping autoplay, you reduce the workload on your device's hardware, resulting in a noticeable improvement in battery longevity and overall app responsiveness. This is a key performance optimization tip for any smartphone user.

4. A More Focused and Less Distracting Feed

The movement and sound of an autoplaying video are designed to grab your attention and pull you into the content. This is a major source of digital distraction, breaking your concentration and making it harder to focus on the text-based posts you might be trying to read. A static feed allows you to process information at your own pace, giving you a more peaceful and intentional browsing experience. For power users and researchers, a distraction-free feed is invaluable for quickly scanning and absorbing information from various sources.

Related Settings: Maximizing Your Data Savings on X

While turning off video autoplay is the most effective step, X offers a few other related settings you can adjust to further minimize your data consumption and customize your media experience. These advanced settings work in tandem with the "Never" autoplay option to give you total control.

• Data Saver Mode: Located in the same "Data usage" menu, X provides a dedicated "Data saver" toggle. Enabling this feature will reduce image quality, lower video streaming quality, and load fewer media previews. It’s a powerful companion setting to disabling autoplay.
• High-Quality Video Uploads: In the "Data usage" section, look for "High-quality video uploads." By default, X may upload videos in the highest possible quality. You can restrict this to "Wi-Fi only" or "Never" to save bandwidth when you are the one posting content.
• Image Quality: You can also control the quality of images displayed in your feed. By selecting a lower quality, you ensure that even static media loads faster and consumes less data, especially on a slow or metered connection.

By implementing these simple changes, you transform your experience on the X platform from a passive, data-draining scroll to an active, controlled, and efficient information stream. Take control of your data, battery, and attention today by making this quick adjustment.